Channel Doping Extension beyond Cell Boundaries

ABSTRACT

An integrated circuit includes a first and a second standard cell. The first standard cell includes a first gate electrode, and a first channel region underlying the first gate electrode. The first channel region has a first channel doping concentration. The second standard cell includes a second gate electrode, and a second channel region underlying the second gate electrode. The second channel region has a second channel doping concentration. A dummy gate includes a first half and a second half in the first and the second standard cells, respectively. The first half and the second half are at the edges of the first and the second standard cells, respectively, and are abutted to each other. A dummy channel is overlapped by the dummy gate. The dummy channel has a third channel doping concentration substantially equal to a sum of the first channel doping concentration and the second channel doping concentration.

PRIORITY CLAIM AND CROSS-REFERENCE

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/874,055, entitled “Channel Doping Extension beyond Cell Boundaries,” filed on Apr. 30, 2013, which application claims the benefit of the following provisionally filed U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/770,222, filed Feb. 27, 2013, and entitled “Channel Doping Extension beyond Cell Boundaries;” which applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Threshold voltage is one of important characteristics that affect the performance of a transistor. The threshold voltage of a transistor is often affected by its well doping concentration. To increase the threshold voltage of a transistor, the channel doping concentration may be increased, and vice versa.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the embodiments, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 through 7B are cross-sectional views and top views of intermediate stages in the manufacturing of standard cells comprising Poly on OD Edge (PODE) devices in accordance with some exemplary embodiments; and

FIGS. 8 through 11 are cross-sectional views of intermediate stages in the manufacturing of standard cells comprising PODE devices in accordance with some alternative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The making and using of the embodiments of the disclosure are discussed in detail below. It should be appreciated, however, that the embodiments provide many applicable concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed are illustrative, and do not limit the scope of the disclosure.

Standard cells comprising transistors and Poly on OD Edge (PODE) devices and the method of forming the same are provided in accordance with various exemplary embodiments. The intermediate stages of forming the cells are illustrated. The variations of the embodiments are discussed. Throughout the various views and illustrative embodiments, like reference numbers are used to designate like elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of an integrated circuit structure, which includes cells 100, 200, and 300 that are butted to form a row of cells. Cells 100, 200, and 300 may be standard cells, and may include, for example, inverters, NOR gates, AND gates, or the like. In the design of the integrated circuits, the standard cells are pre-designed, and are copied, placed, and routed to form integrated circuits. To explain the concept of the present disclosure, cells 100, 200 and 300 are shown as including gate electrodes 102, 202, and 302, respectively, which form PMOS device 104, 204, and 304 with the underlying continuous active region (sometimes referred to as an OD region hereinafter) 22. Gate electrodes 102, 202, and 302 further form NMOS devices 106, 206, and 306 with the underlying continuous active region 24. It is appreciated, however, that cells 100, 200, and 300 may have structures different from what is shown in FIG. 1.

PODEs 108, 110, 208, 210, 308, and 310 are formed at the edges of cells 100, 200, and 300. The PODEs are dummy gate electrodes that do not function as the gates of functional transistors. PODEs 108, 110, 208, 210, 308, and 310 are such named since they may be formed of polysilicon, and may be formed simultaneously as the formation of the gate electrodes of MOS transistors 104, 106, 204, 206, 304, and 306. Each of PODEs 108, 110, 208, 210, 308, and 310 is formed to extend into two abutted cells, with the edges of the abutted cells aligned to the middle line of the respective PODEs. Alternatively stated, each of PODEs 108, 110, 208, 210, 308, and 310 includes a half in each of two neighboring cells. When the respective integrated circuits are operated, PODEs 108, 110, 208, 210, 308, and 310 may be electrically floating. Alternatively, PODEs 108, 208, and 308 may be tied to VDD when they are on the source side of (and possibly adjoin) PMOS transistors. PODEs 110, 210, and 310 may be tied to VSS when they are on the source side of (and possibly adjoin) the NMOS transistors.

Active region 22 continuously extends into cells 100, 200, and 300, and is used for forming PMOS transistors. Active region 24 continuously extends into cells 100, 200, and 300, and is used for forming NMOS transistors. The channel regions of transistors 104, 204, and 304 are overlapped by gate electrodes 102, 202, and 302, which channel regions have channel doping. The channel doping of PMOS transistors 104, 204, and 304 is n-type, and the channel doping of NMOS transistors 106, 206, and 306 is p-type. The channel doping affects the threshold voltage (Vt) of the respective transistor. For example, for NMOS transistors 104, 204, and 304, heavier channel doping results in higher Vt, and vice versa. For PMOS transistors 106, 206, and 306, heavier channel doping also results in higher Vt, and vice versa. In the exemplary embodiments, it is assumed that PMOS transistors 204 and 304 have threshold voltage Vt2, which is different from the threshold voltage Vt1 of PMOS transistor 104.

FIGS. 2 through 7B illustrate the top views and cross-sectional views in the formation of cells 100, 200, and 300 (FIG. 1) in accordance with exemplary embodiments. Referring to FIG. 2, active regions 22 and 24 are formed, which formation process includes forming Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) regions 26 to define the boundaries of active regions 22 and 24. Active regions 22 and 24 may be the active regions of planar MOS transistors. Alternatively, active regions 22 and 24 are semiconductor fins protruding above the top surface of STI regions 26, and transistors 104, 106, 204, 206, 304, and 306 are FinFETs.

FIG. 3A illustrates the formation of mask layer 28, which may be a photo resist, for example. At this time, gate electrodes 102, 202, and 302 and PODEs 108, 110, 208, 210, 308, and 310 have not been formed yet. Hence, dashed lines are used to mark their future positions. Opening 30 is formed in mask layer 28 to expose the portion of active region 22 in cell 100 and portion 29B of active region 22 in cell 200, wherein the exposed portion 29B in cell 200 is adjacent to the edge, and does not extend to where gate electrodes 202 are to be formed. The exposed portions of active region 22 includes portion 22A, which is to be covered by PODE 108 in a subsequent step. A half of portion 29A of active region 22 is also in cell 200, which half is to be covered by future PODE 108. Portion 29B of active region 22 adjoins portion 29A. Throughout the description, portions 29A is referred to as a PODE channel (also referred to as a dummy channel). After the formation of mask layer 28, a channel doping is performed through implantation 33, wherein mask layer 28 is used as an implantation mask. Accordingly, a portion of active region 22 in cell 100 and a portion of active region 22 in cell 200 are implanted simultaneously.

FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the structure in FIG. 3A, wherein the cross-sectional view is obtained from the plan crossing line 3B-3B in FIG. 3A. As shown in FIG. 3B, active region 22, which is a portion of semiconductor substrate 32 defined by STI regions 26 (FIG. 1), is implanted to form the channel doping region 34. In some embodiments, in implantation 33, an n-type impurity such as phosphorous, arsenic, and antimony is implanted, for example. The resulting channel doping region 34 has a first n-type impurity concentration CDC1 between about 10¹⁵ /cm³ and about 10¹⁹ /cm³, for example. It is appreciated, however, that the values recited throughout the description are merely examples, and may be changed to different values. The first n-type impurity concentration CDC1 is selected so that the resulting PMOS transistor 104 in cell 100 (FIG. 1) has a first desirable threshold voltage Vt1.

Next, mask layer 28 is removed, and the resulting structure is shown in FIG. 4. The resulting channel doping region 34 is shown in FIG. 4. Next, as shown in FIG. 5A, mask layer 36 is formed, which may be a photo resist, for example. Opening 38 is formed in mask layer 36 to expose the portion of active region 22 in cells 200 and 300. In addition, portions 29A and 29C of active region 22 in cell 100 is exposed through opening 38, wherein the exposed portions 29A and 29C join the portion of active region 22 in cells 200 and 300. A channel doping is then performed using mask layer 36 as an implantation mask. Accordingly, the portions of active region 22 in cells 200 and 300 and portions 29A and 29B of active region 22 in cell 100 are implanted.

FIG. 5B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the structure in FIG. 5A, wherein the cross-sectional view is obtained from the plan crossing line 5B-5B in FIG. 5A. As shown in FIG. 5B, active region 22 is implanted to form channel doping region 44. In some embodiments, in the implantation, an n-type impurity such as phosphorous, arsenic, antimony, is implanted, for example. The resulting channel doping region 44 has a second n-type impurity concentration between about 10¹⁵ /cm³ and about 10¹⁹ /cm³, for example. The second n-type impurity concentration is designed so that the resulting PMOS transistors 204 and 304 (FIG. 1) have second desirable threshold voltages Vt2 different from the first threshold voltage Vt1 of transistor 104. Accordingly, the second channel doping concentration is different from the first channel doping concentration, which is performed in the step in FIGS. 3A and 3B. In some exemplary embodiments, a ratio of the second channel doping concentration to the first channel doping concentration is between about 2 and about 10.

As shown in FIG. 5B, channel doping regions 34 and 44 overlap with each other, wherein the overlap region is marked as region 29. Channel doping region 29 receive both the implanted n-type impurity in the first channel doping, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, and the implanted n-type impurity in the second channel doping, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. The doping concentration in channel doping region 29 is hence the sum of the doping concentration caused by the first n-type impurity concentration in FIGS. 3A and 3B and the doping concentration caused by the second n-type impurity concentration in FIGS. 5A and 5B. The position of PODE 108, which will be formed in a subsequent step, is schematically illustrated in FIG. 5B. It is appreciated that PODE 108 and doping region 29 (which includes 29A, 29B, and 29C) form a parasitic transistor. Since the left half and the right half of PODE channel 29A have a same channel doping concentration, the parasitic transistor has symmetric threshold voltage Vt, which is higher than both Vt1 and Vt2. The parasitic transistor having the symmetric threshold voltage is easier to simulate than a transistor having an asymmetric threshold voltage.

Mask layer 36 is then removed, and the resulting structure is shown in FIG. 6. Next, as shown in FIG. 7A, gate electrodes 102, 202, and 302 and PODEs 108, 110, 208, 210, 308, and 310 are formed. FIG. 7B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the structure in FIG. 7A, wherein the cross-sectional view is obtained from the plan crossing line 7B-7B in FIG. 7A. As shown in FIG. 7B, gate electrodes 102, 202, and 302 and PODEs 108, 208, and 308 are formed over gate dielectrics 42. PODEs 110, 210, and 310 are also formed over gate dielectrics 42, although PODEs 110, 210, and 310 are not shown in FIG. 7B. Channel regions 146, 246, and 346 are formed in cells 100, 200, and 300, respectively. Channel regions 146 are parts of channel doping region 34, and hence have the first channel doping concentration CDC1. Channel regions 246 and 346 are parts of channel doping region 44, and hence have the second channel doping concentration CDC2. PODE channel 29A has the channel doping concentration (CDC1+CDC2), and PODE channel 39, which is under PODE 208, has the channel doping concentration CDC2.

FIGS. 2 through 7B illustrate the channel doping of PMOS transistors 104, 204, and 304 in FIG. 1. The channel doping of NMOS transistors 106, 206, and 306 (FIG. 1) may be performed using essentially the same processes in FIGS. 2 through 7B, except that the active region 22 in FIGS. 2 through 7B is replaced by active region 24, and the channel doping is performed using a p-type impurity.

FIGS. 8 through 11 illustrate the formation of cells in accordance with alternative embodiments. The resulting structure formed using the process in FIGS. 8 through 11 is also illustrated in FIG. 1. Unless specified otherwise, the materials and formation methods of the components in these embodiments are essentially the same as the like components, which are denoted by like reference numerals in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 through 7B. The details regarding the formation process and the materials of the components shown in FIGS. 8 through 11 may thus be found in the discussion of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 through 7B. The cross-sectional views in FIGS. 8 through 11 are obtained from the plane crossing line A-A in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 8, dummy gate stacks 50 are formed. The positions of dummy gate stacks 50 are where 102, 202, and 303 and PODEs 108, 110, 208, 210, 308, and 310 (FIG. 1) are to be formed in subsequent steps. Next, dielectric layer 52 is formed. Dielectric layer 52 may include gate spacers (not shown) on the sidewalls of dummy gate stacks 50, and an Inter-Layer Dielectric (ILD) filling the spaces between the gate spacers.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, dummy gate stacks 50 are removed, leaving openings 53 in dielectric layer 52. Mask layer 28 is then formed, with opening 30 formed therein. Opening 30 may be formed at the same position, and having same size, as opening 30 in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Channel doping 33 is then performed, for example, using the same impurity, and to the same concentration, as in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The impurity is implanted into active region 22 through openings 30 and 53. As a result, channels regions 146 are formed, and have a channel doping concentration equal to CDC1. In these embodiments, however, channels regions 146 are discrete regions, and are not parts of a continuous channel doping region 34 as shown in FIG. 7B.

Next, mask layer 28 is removed, and mask layer 36 is formed, with opening 38 formed therein. The respective structure is shown in FIG. 10. Similarly, opening 38 may be formed at the same position, and has a similar size, as mask layer opening 38 in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Channel doping region 44 is then performed, for example, through an implantation using the same impurity, and to the same concentration, as in FIGS. 5A and 5B. The impurity is implanted into active region 22 through openings 38 and 53. As a result, channels regions 246 and 346 and PODE channel 39 are formed, and have a channel doping concentration equal to CDC2. In these embodiments, however, 246 and 346 and PODE channel 39 are discrete regions, and are not parts of a continuous channel doping region 44 as shown in FIG. 7B. Mask layer 36 is then removed. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, since PODE channel 29 receive two channel doping, one in the step shown in FIG. 9, and one in the step in FIG. 10, the channel doping concentration in PODE channel 29A is equal to (CDC1+CDC2). It is observed that PODE channel 29A includes a first portion in cell 100 and a second portion in cell 200. In accordance with the embodiments of the present disclosure, the first portion and the second portion have a same channel doping concentration, resulting in a parasitic PODE device having a symmetric threshold voltages Vt. FIG. 11 illustrates the formation of replacement gate electrodes 102, 202, and 302, and PODEs 108, 110, 208, 210, 308, and 310. The formation may be performed using a gate-last approach, and the details are not discussed herein.

FIGS. 8 through 11 illustrate the channel doping of PMOS transistors 104, 204, and 304 in FIG. 1. The channel doping of NMOS transistors 106, 206, and 306 (FIG. 1) may be performed using essentially the same processes in FIGS. 8 through 11, except that the active region 22 in FIGS. 8 through 11 is replaced by active region 24, and the channel doping is performed using a p-type impurity.

In FIGS. 7B and 11, MOS transistor 104 include source or drain region (referred to as source/drain region hereinafter) 112, which is heavily doped, for example, with a p-type impurity concentration between about 10¹⁹ /cm³ and about 10²² /cm³. MOS transistor 204 include source/drain region 212, which is heavily doped, for example, with a p-type impurity concentration between about 10¹⁹ /cm³ and about 10²² /cm³. Throughout the description, the term “source/drain region” refers to a source region or a drain region. Source/drain regions 112 and 212 are on opposite sides of, and are in contact with PODE channel 29A. In addition, PODE 108 forms a parasitic transistor with PODE channel 29A, wherein source/drain regions 112 and 212 act as a source and a drain. The threshold voltage of the resulting PODE transistor is higher than the threshold voltages of both MOS transistors 104 and 204 due to the higher channel doping concentration in PODE channel 29A.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, since the channel doping regions are designed to expand to neighboring cells when the channel region of one cell is doped. The PODE device, which is a parasitic device formed of a PODE and its underlying PODE channel, has a symmetric doping in two halves of the PODE channel, with the channel doping of the two halves of the PODE channel in two cells having the same doping concentration. As a comparison, if in the channel doping, the doped active region is limited to the active region in the respective cell, then a PODE channel may have a first half in the first cell and having a first doping concentration, and a second half in the second cell and having a second doping concentration different from the first doping concentration, resulting in a device having an asymmetric Vt. The device with the asymmetric Vt is difficult to simulate, and hence its performance and its affect to the integrated circuit is difficult to predict.

In accordance with some embodiments, an integrated circuit includes a first and a second standard cell. The first standard cell includes a first gate electrode, and a first channel region underlying the first gate electrode. The first channel region has a first channel doping concentration. The second standard cell includes a second gate electrode, and a second channel region underlying the second gate electrode. The second channel region has a second channel doping concentration. A dummy gate includes a first half and a second half in the first and the second standard cells, respectively. The first half and the second half are at the edges of the first and the second standard cells, respectively, and are abutted to each other. A dummy channel is overlapped by the dummy gate. The dummy channel has a third channel doping concentration substantially equal to a sum of the first channel doping concentration and the second channel doping concentration.

In accordance with other embodiments, an integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate, a continuous active region in the semiconductor substrate, and a first transistor and a second transistor having a first threshold voltage and a second threshold voltage, respectively. The first transistor includes a first gate electrode overlying the continuous active region, and a first source/drain region on a side of the first gate electrode. The second transistor includes a second gate electrode overlying the continuous active region, and a second source/drain region on a side of the second gate electrode. A dummy gate electrode is overlying the continuous active region. The dummy gate electrode, the first source/drain region, and the second source/drain region form a parasitic transistor, which has a third threshold voltage greater than the first threshold voltage and the second threshold voltage.

In accordance with yet other embodiments, a method includes forming a first mask layer over an active region, wherein the active region extends into a first cell and a second cell abutting the first cell, and wherein the active region comprises a border portion including a first portion in the first cell and a second portion in the second cell. The first mask layer is patterned to form a first opening. The border portion of the active region and a first channel portion of the active region are exposed through the first opening, wherein the first channel portion is in the first cell. A first channel doping is performed to dope the border portion of the active region and the first channel portion of the active region simultaneously. The first mask layer is then removed. A second mask layer is formed over the active region. The second mask layer is patterned to form a second opening. The border portion of the active region and a second channel portion of the active region are exposed through the second opening, wherein the second channel portion is in the second cell. A second channel doping is performed to dope the border portion of the active region and the second channel portion of the active region simultaneously. The second mask layer is then removed. A first and a second gate electrode are formed to overlap the first and the second channel portions to form a first and a second transistor, respectively. A dummy gate electrode is formed to overlap the boarder portion, wherein the dummy gate electrode extends into the first and the second cells.

Although the embodiments and their advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, and composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed, that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps. In addition, each claim constitutes a separate embodiment, and the combination of various claims and embodiments are within the scope of the disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: performing a first channel doping to dope a portion of an active region and a first channel portion of the active region simultaneously; performing a second channel doping to dope the portion of the active region and a second channel portion of the active region simultaneously; forming a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode overlapping the first and the second channel portions to form a first transistor and a second transistor, respectively; and forming a dummy gate electrode overlapping the portion of the active region.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first channel doping is performed before the forming the first and the second gate electrodes.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first channel doping is performed after forming the first and the second gate electrodes, with the first and the second gate electrodes being dummy gates.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and the second transistors are PMOS transistors, and wherein in the first channel doping and the second channel doping, n-type impurities are doped.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and the second transistors are NMOS transistors, and wherein in the first channel doping and the second channel doping, p-type impurities are doped.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and the second channel portions of the active region are doped to different doping concentrations.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first channel doping and the second channel doping comprises: forming a mask layer over the active region; patterning the mask layer to form an opening, wherein the portion of the active region and a respective one of the first channel portion and the second channel portion of the active region are exposed through the opening; and implanting an impurity through the opening.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the active region extends into a first cell and a second cell abutting the first cell, and wherein the active region comprises a border portion comprising a first portion in the first cell and a second portion in the second cell, and the first channel portion and the second channel portion are in the first cell and the second cell, respectively.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the dummy gate electrode extends into both the first and the second cells.
 10. A method comprising: performing a first channel doping to dope a portion of an active region and a first channel region of a first transistor simultaneously; performing a second channel doping to dope the portion of the active region and a second channel region of a second transistor simultaneously; and forming a dummy gate electrode overlapping the portion of the active region.
 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising forming a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode for the first transistor and the second transistor, respectively, wherein the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode overlap the first and the second channel regions, respectively.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first channel region and the second channel region of the active region are doped to different doping concentrations.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the active region extends into a first cell and a second cell abutting the first cell, and wherein the portion of the active region comprises a first portion in the first cell and a second portion in the second cell, and the first channel region and the second channel region are in the first cell and the second cell, respectively.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the dummy gate electrode extends into both the first and the second cells.
 15. The method of claim 10 further comprising connecting the dummy gate electrode to an electrical ground.
 16. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and the second transistors are PMOS transistors, and the method further comprises connecting the dummy gate electrode to VDD.
 17. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and the second transistors are NMOS transistors, and the method further comprises connecting the dummy gate electrode to VSS.
 18. A method comprising: forming a first mask layer over an active region, wherein the active region comprises a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, with the second portion between and adjoining the first portion and the third portion; patterning the first mask layer to form a first opening, wherein the first portion and the second portion are exposed through the first opening, and the third portion is covered by the first mask layer; performing a first channel doping on the first portion and the second portion of the active region; removing the first mask layer; forming a second mask layer over the active region; patterning the second mask layer to form a second opening, wherein the second portion and the third portion are exposed through the second opening, and the first portion is covered by the second mask layer; performing a second channel doping on the second portion and the third portion of the active region; removing the second mask layer; forming a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode overlapping the first and the third portions of the active region to form a first transistor and a second transistor, respectively; and forming a dummy gate electrode overlapping the second portion of the active region.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the first and the second gate electrodes covers a middle portion of the first portion and the third portion of the active region, respectively.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the dummy gate electrode covers a middle portion of the second portion of the active region, with the second portion of the active region comprises additional portions uncovered by, and on opposite sides of, the dummy gate electrode. 